WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION EXECUTIVE BOARD 115th Session Agenda item 7.4 EB115/22 21 January 2005
Relations with nongovernmental organizations Report of the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations
1. In accordance with paragraphs 4.2 and 4.6 of the Principles governing relations between the World Health Organization and nongovernmental organizations,1 the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations2 met on 18 January 2005 to consider the relevant documents. The Board is invited to decide on the proposed draft resolution and decision set out in section III below.
I.
APPLICATIONS OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR ADMISSION INTO OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO (Restricted documents EB115/NGO/1-3)
2. The Committee noted that its task was to evaluate the merits of each application and determine whether, in its view, the nongovernmental organizations met the criteria for admission into official relations as set out in paragraph 3 of the above-mentioned Principles. The Committee reviewed the applications3 from the Framework Convention Alliance on Tobacco Control (document EB115/NGO/1), the International Network on Children’s Health, Environment and Safety (document EB115/NGO/2) and the International Stroke Society (document EB115/NGO/3), and was satisfied that, based on the information provided, they met the criteria for admission into official relations. In view of this, the Committee agreed to recommend the admission into official relations of these three international nongovernmental organizations.
II.
REVIEW OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO (Restricted document EB115/NGO/WP/1)
3. The above-mentioned document contained information about collaboration, or the status of relations, between WHO and 80 nongovernmental organizations and, as appropriate, nongovernmental 1 2
Basic documents, 44th ed., Geneva, World Health Organization, 2003.
Members of the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations: Dr F. Huerta Montalvo, Chairman, (Ecuador), Dr A.A. Yoosuf (Maldives), Dr F. Lamata Cotanda (Spain), Mrs E. Iqbal (alternate to Dr A.B. Osman, Sudan), Mrs Le Thi Thu Ha (Viet Nam). 3
Transmitted to the members of the Board under cover of a letter numbered L/04.24, dated 22 November 2004.
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organizations referred to in decision EB113(1).1 A list of their names appears in the Annex. The information was derived from activity reports submitted by the nongovernmental organizations and an evaluation by responsible officers in the Secretariat of the collaboration and relationship in order to determine the desirability of maintaining official relations. 4. The Committee reviewed summarized reports from 49 nongovernmental organizations listed in the Annex to document EB115/NGO/WP/1 (and asterisked in the Annex to this report). For the most part activities had taken place during the three years 2002-2004, except for some nongovernmental organizations referred to in the third and sixth paragraphs of decision EB113(1); where appropriate the annexed list is annotated to show the review period. 5. The Committee noted with appreciation the work of the nongovernmental organizations with WHO and that collaboration was planned or expected to continue for the coming three years. In view of this, it agreed to recommend to the Board that the 49 nongovernmental organizations should be maintained in official relations and that the Board’s appreciation of their continuing contribution to the work of WHO should be conveyed to them. 6. The Committee then considered relations with the International Federation of Fertility Societies. That body had informed WHO that, although there had been no significant collaboration during the period under review because of a lack of resources, the situation had recently changed and the Federation wanted to resume collaboration. WHO’s Secretariat was also interested in such an outcome. The Committee therefore agreed to recommend that the Board defer the review of relations with the Federation for one year in order to facilitate the development of a plan for collaboration. 7. Relations with the International Alliance of Women, International Council of Women, and Soroptimist International were then reviewed. The Committee noted that they had, in accordance with the responsibilities of nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO, regularly disseminated information about the work of WHO during the period under review. Unfortunately it had not been possible for the Secretariat to maintain continuous contact with these nongovernmental organizations and collaborative plans had therefore not been realized. In this connection it was also noted that the department concerned, after completion of a review of its work and structure, intended to meet the nongovernmental organizations with a view to exploring the possibility of revitalizing the relations on the basis of workplans relevant to the revised priorities of the department. The Committee was pleased that the nongovernmental organizations remained active in disseminating information about WHO. It agreed to recommend that the Board should note their continuing advocacy of WHO and, in view of the circumstances, defer the review of relations for one year in order to facilitate the development of plans for collaboration. 8. The Committee was informed that Infact had recently changed its name to Corporate Accountability International which, according to the information it had provided, had collaborated with WHO in several activities in support of a strong WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Committee noted that the Secretariat appreciated the nongovernmental organization’s support. As, however, the Secretariat was reviewing its future work on the Convention once it had come into force, a plan for collaboration had not been agreed, and it was noted that the Secretariat wanted to defer the review until the Boards 117th session. One Member State drew the attention of the Committee to what it considered to be inappropriate behaviour by representatives of Corporate
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Document EB113/2004/REC/1, pp. 21-22.
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Accountability International at sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 9. The Committee recommended that the review of relations with Corporate Accountability International should be deferred until the Board’s 117th session and that, at that time, the Secretariat should submit to the Standing Committee a report on the state of relations between WHO and the nongovernmental organization and on the conduct of its representatives at intergovernmental meetings. 10. The Committee considered the report from the International Association of Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health. Based on the information provided it appeared that the Association participated in conferences that were related to WHO’s work but not jointly organized. For its part, and notwithstanding the value of the Association’s work in its specialized field, WHO’s Secretariat had no plans to resume collaboration with the Association. In view of this, the Committee recommended that the Board should thank the Association for its report and continuing work in the field of health but, in view of the absence of plans to pursue collaboration in the future, discontinue official relations with the Association. 11. The Committee noted that reports on collaboration either arrived too late or were outstanding from the following nongovernmental organizations: International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities, International Confederation of Midwives, International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW International), International Federation of Chemical, Mine, Energy and General Workers’ Unions, International Federation of Sports Medicine, International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, International Traffic Medicine Association, International Union for Health Promotion and Education, International Union of Psychological Science, Medical Women’s International Association, Rehabilitation International, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, and the World Organization of the Scout Movement. The Committee recommended that, consequently, the Board should defer the review of relations with these nongovernmental organizations for one year. 12. The Committee then considered reports of follow-up to the Board’s decision EB113(1).
13. In accordance with the fifth paragraph of that decision, a review of relations with the International Council on Social Welfare had been deferred pending receipt of a report on efforts to reach agreement on a workplan. In a letter dated 10 August 2004 the Council advised, inter alia, that, although it remained interested in working with WHO, it was not in a position to develop a workplan at this time and indicated their preference to suspend relations. WHO’s Secretariat was agreeable to this step. In view of the fact that review of relations with the Council had been pending since the Board’s 111th session, and taking into consideration the Council’s request, the Committee recommended that official relations with the Council should be suspended until such time as a plan for collaboration may be developed. 14. In accordance with the third paragraph of decision EB113(1), the review of relations with the International Council for Science had been deferred pending a receipt of its report. The Council’s subsequent report referred to several activities between WHO and some international associations that are members of the Council and other bodies that are linked to it. Concerning the former activities, it was noted that the international associations were, in their own right, in official relations with WHO. Thus their activities were reviewed separately by the Board. As for the other activities referred to, WHO’s Secretariat was of the view that the relationship, at this time, did not warrant formal relations.
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15. The Committee observed that the Council is a well respected science-based organization, but, in view of the lack of plans for pursuing collaboration directly with the Council that could serve as the basis of an official relations, it agreed to recommend that official relations with the Council should be discontinued. 16. Reports from the following nongovernmental organizations, also referred to in the third paragraph of decision EB113(1), remained outstanding: Federation for International Cooperation of Health Services and Systems Research Centers, International Society of Chemotherapy, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology. In the absence of reports or information about the status of relations a review was not possible. In view of this, and taking into consideration the previous decision of the Board with regard to similar cases, the Committee agreed to recommend that the Board should defer the review of relations with these nongovernmental organizations for a further year and that, when the request for their reports was reiterated, they should be informed that, should the reports not be forthcoming in time for consideration by the Board at its 117th session, official relations would be discontinued. 17. Finally, the Committee recalled that, in accordance with the sixth paragraph of decision EB113(1), several nongovernmental organizations had been invited to submit their outstanding reports and had been informed, at the same time, that, if they were not forthcoming for review by the Board at its 115th session, official relations would be discontinued. According to the information provided, the following nongovernmental organizations had not responded to the request: the International Academy of Pathology, International Radiation Protection Association, International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, World Assembly of Youth, and the World Federation of Parasitologists. In view of the earlier decision of the Board, the Committee decided to recommend that the Board should decide to discontinue official relations with these nongovernmental organizations.
III. PROPOSED DRAFT RESOLUTION AND DECISION 18. Draft resolution. The Executive Board, Having examined the report of its Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations1 1. DECIDES to admit into official relations with WHO the Framework Convention Alliance on Tobacco Control, International Network on Children’s Health, Environment and Safety, and the International Stroke Society; 2. DECIDES, taking into account the request of the International Council on Social Welfare, to suspend official relations with the Council until such time as a plan for collaboration may be developed; 3. DECIDES to discontinue official relations with the International Association of Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health, and the International Council for Science;
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Document EB115/22.
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4. DECIDES, in the absence of reports from the International Academy of Pathology, International Radiation Protection Association, International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, World Assembly of Youth, and the World Federation of Parasitologists, to discontinue official relations with these nongovernmental organizations. 19. Draft decision on the review of nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO. The Executive Board, having considered and noted the report of its Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations concerning the review of one third of the nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO,1 and following up decision EB113(1), reached the decisions set out below. Noting with satisfaction the continuing collaboration between WHO and the nongovernmental organizations whose names are asterisked in the Annex to the report, and that collaboration is planned or expected to continue, the Board decided to maintain them in official relations with WHO and to request the Secretariat to transmit the Board’s appreciation of their continuing support of WHO’s objectives and contribution to world health. Noting that WHO’s Secretariat was interested in resuming planned collaboration, the Board decided to defer the review of relations with the International Federation of Fertility Societies for a year to enable the development of a plan for collaboration. Noting that, during the period under review, it had not been possible to maintain contacts with the International Alliance for Women, International Council of Women, and Soroptimist International, and for that reason collaborative plans had not been realized, and also that it was intended to explore the possibility of a workplan, the Board decided to defer a decision on the review of relations with these nongovernmental organizations until the Board’s 117th session. Further noting that a workplan with Infact (which has changed its name to Corporate Accountability International) has yet to be agreed, the Board decided to defer the review of relations with this nongovernmental organization until the Board’s 117th session, at which time a report on the state of those relations and the conduct of representatives of the nongovernmental organization at intergovernmental meetings will be provided to the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations. In the absence or late arrival of reports on collaboration, the Board decided to defer review of relations with the following nongovernmental organizations until its 117th session: International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities, International Confederation of Midwives, International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW International), International Federation of Chemical, Mine, Energy and General Workers’ Unions, International Federation of Sports Medicine, International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, International Traffic Medicine Association, International Union for Health Promotion and Education, International Union of Psychological Science, Medical Women’s International Association, Rehabilitation International, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, and the World Organization of the Scout Movement. 1
Document EB115/22.
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Noting that reports of collaboration remained outstanding from the following nongovernmental organizations: Federation for International Cooperation of Health Services and Systems Research Centers, International Society of Chemotherapy, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, the Board decided to defer the review of relations with them for a further year, pending receipt of their reports, and requested that they should be reminded of the requirement to submit reports and be informed that, if the reports are not provided in time for consideration at the Executive Board’s 117th session, official relations would be discontinued. The Board noted that relations with the International Academy of Pathology, International Association of Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health, International Council for Science, International Council on Social Welfare, International Radiation Protection Association, International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, World Assembly of Youth, and the World Federation of Parasitologists, also listed in the Annex to the report, were the subject of a resolution.
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ANNEX LIST OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH WHO REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AT ITS 115TH SESSION Alzheimer’s Disease International* CMC – Churches’ Action for Health*1 Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum* Commonwealth Association for Mental Handicap and Developmental Disabilities* Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association*1 Corporate Accountability International2 Family Health International* Federation for International Cooperation of Health Services and Systems Research Centers HelpAge International* Inclusion International* Industry Council for Development* Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Children* International Academy of Pathology International Alliance of Women International Association for Adolescent Health* International Association for Maternal and Neonatal Health* International Association for Suicide Prevention* International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities International Association of Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health International Bureau for Epilepsy* International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-social Assistants*1 International Commission on Occupational Health* International Confederation of Midwives International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders* International Council for Science International Council of Women International Council on Social Welfare International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering*1 International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW International) International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions International Federation of Fertility Societies International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics* International Federation of Sports Medicine International Federation on Ageing*3 International Lactation Consultant Association* International League against Epilepsy* International Non Governmental Coalition Against Tobacco* International Occupational Hygiene Association* International Pediatric Association* International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War* International Planned Parenthood Federation* International Radiation Protection Association International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism International Society for Human and Animal Mycology
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Annex
International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics* International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development International Society of Andrology* International Society of Blood Transfusion*1 International Society of Chemotherapy International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine* International Solid Waste Association*4 International Special Dietary Foods Industries* International Traffic Medicine Association International Union for Health Promotion and Education International Union of Immunological Societies*4 International Union of Nutritional Sciences* International Union of Psychological Science International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry International Women’s Health Coalition* Italian Association of Friends of Raoul Follereau* La Leche League International* Medical Women’s International Association Multiple Sclerosis International Federation* Rehabilitation International Soroptimist International The Population Council* World Assembly of Youth World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation*3 World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts* World Association of Societies of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine*1 World Confederation for Physical Therapy* World Federation for Mental Health* World Federation of Neurology* World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology World Federation of Occupational Therapists* World Federation of Parasitologists World Federation of the Deaf* World Organization of the Scout Movement World Psychiatric Association* ====
* Based on reports of joint collaboration for the period under review, the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations recommended the maintenance of official relations of those nongovernmental organizations whose names are followed by an asterisk; other nongovernmental organizations are the subject of specific decisions or a resolution. 1 2 3 4
Activities concern the period 2001-2003 Previously known as Infact. Activities concern the period 1999-2004. Activities concern the period 2000-2002.
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